Tradition vs modernization: court adjourns case as siblings fight over mum’s corpse in Kaduna
http://www.newsportng.com.ng Upper Customary Court, Television Sabon Tasha, in Kaduna state has adjourned the case between One Mr. Emmanuel Bakam and his siblings to August 1st, 2024.
The case, in what many see as a clash between tradition and modernisation, had left the body of late Mrs. Cecelia Peter Bakam, who died in October 2023 unburied following her alledged dieing wish.
The first son of Late 70-year-old woman, Emmanuel Bakam, has in January this year approached the Upper Customary Court Television, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, seeking the release of her mother’s corpse for burial in accordance with the Bajju native custom and tradition which stipulated that his late mother should be buried outside her matrimonial home.
Bajju is one of the dominating tribes in Zagon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria.
Recalled that News-Port Nigeria earlier reported that the defendants, Hajiya Maryam Doka, Maureen Kabrik Bakam, Veronica Dudu Bakam, George Bakam, and Pascalina Bakam refused to grant access to the first son of the family and the elders because their requests to bury their late mother inside a room alongside their late father was not granted.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the court session in Kaduna on Thursday, the Counsel to the first plaintiff, Barrister James Bala Ndam said that the respondents brought three witnesses today and were crossed examine.
Ndam disclosed that that the defendants have closed their case today and next is to address the court and subsequently, judgement thereafter.
He briefed Journalists that, “The case specifically is on the issue of the tradition of the Bajju people on burial when a member of the family does what should be done and who has a stake in the process of the burial.
“The children of the deceased in this matter withheld the corpse of their mother, denying the first male child of the family and the elders of the family access to the corpse for burial at their village.
“Their reason for doing that is that they had spent money while their mother was sick and should be allowed to determine where their mother should be buried, the time, and what date. They claimed that the elders and the first son of the family do not have the right to decide.
“The mother died on September 15, 2023. The elders showed them where their late mother should be buried but they insisted that she must be buried inside the house that was built on the family land; while the elders insisted they don’t bury people inside the room but outside
“After we had closed our case at the last date, the matter was adjourned for today for them to open their defence and they came today with three persons who gave evidence and were cross-examined.
“Our prayers are for the court to order the defendants to allow the first male child to have access to the corpse of their late mother and for her to be released for proper burial on the ground that they are bound to do so under the Bajju laws and custom.
“Because of the nature of the case we are not asking for any cost or any amount of money but for the unity of the family. We are only appealing to the court to declare that what we brought before the court is the right practice in the Bajju native laws and customs”, he explained.
Earlier, the presiding Judge, Justice Danladi Douglas, urged the warring parties to remain calm, while assuring that justice will be duly served within the ambit of the law.
Meanwhile, Counsel to the defendants declined to comment on the matter.
